The Urban Forager

The Urban Forager is a cookbook, guide, and irresistible invitation to both the novice and adventurous food lover to explore the rich, diverse culinary cultures of Los Angeles' eastside. Food makers representing the eastside's diverse traditions share beloved recipes, ingredients, innovations, and neighborhood resources. It's a hands-on, stunningly photographed collection of inspiring recipes, profiles, and references for both novice and adventurous home cooks, as well as the culinarily curious. Includes profiles of and recipes by such acclaimed cooks as Minh Phan (porridge + puffs), Sumi Chang, and Mario Rodriguez, as well as Elisa Callow's wise, clear kitchen advice and foolproof recipes for delicious everyday dishes.
The Urban Forager is a cookbook, guide, and irresistible invitation to both the novice and adventurous food lover to explore the rich, diverse culinary cultures of L.A'.s Eastside.
Elisa Callow shares her recipes and food discoveries on her blog, The Urban Forager. The former founding director of the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena, California, she is a consultant in the nonprofit world with a focus on the arts and education. She lives in Altadena.
Photographer Ann Elliott Cutting is a professional photographer based in Pasadena, California. She's on the photography faculty of Art Center College of Design, is a ceramicist, and, to really round things out, is also a molecular biologist who has worked at Caltech.
An LAist "Essential Los Angeles Cookbook"

"A welcome surprise, The Urban Forager is a good read about the area and the people. Of course, the recipes tie it all together."
-- Diane Worthington, Chicago Tribune

"An ideal compendium for adventurous home cooks who want to expand their repertoires."
-- Elina Shatkin, LAist

"Elisa Callow takes us on a stroll through her kitchen, her neighborhood, and her meandering path of learning to be a great cook--and drops a lot of knowledge along the way. I relished her discoveries and expanded my own world of food and community."
-- Anna Thomas, James Beard Award winner and author of The Vegetarian Epicure, Love Soup, and Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore

"The Urban Forager provides insight into a region of innovation and leadership that is intriguing and enlightening, with a sweeping mix of cultures, styles, and personalities. Though locally focused, the concept and personal voice of the book make it a good read as well as guide--and there are recipes for all!"
-- Jerry Di Vecchio, former food and wine editor, Sunset Magazine

"Elisa has always known the way to the hidden jewels in our culture-rich city. This stunning treasure map focuses on her friends, family, and a beautiful life as she takes us through her community, to the people and places that inspire her love of food. The book is also bursting with warm, lovingly composed photos and recipes. How lucky we all are to go with her on this journey."
-- Christine Moore, author of Little Flower Baking and Little Flower: Recipes from the Café

"If indeed the kitchen is the heart of the home, The Urban Forager wonderfully captures this truth with warm, anecdotal stories, delicious food photographs, and charming illustrations. As a chef, I read and use lots of recipes on a daily basis, and Elisa's recipes are manageable, smart, and well tested. The creatively selected ingredients coupled with didactic methods teach the user how to develop into a skilled cook. The Urban Forager is much more than a collection of fabulous recipes--it is a lifestyle book."
-- Onil Chibás, chef/owner, Onil Chibás Events